American Hit by FW190 fighters, crashed near Ponthion, ±15km NE of Vitry-le-François, Marne Department, France. Pilot John H. Combs Jr (POW); Co-Pilot Charles W. Roof (EVD); Navigator Eugene M. Hoag (EVD); Bombardier Charles G. Bieber (KIA); Radio Operator Robert O. Behrens (EVD); Top Turret gunner Anthony B. McKeon (EVD); Ball Turret gunner Clayton L. Miller (KIA); Left Waist gunner Harry L. Tamboer (KIA); Right Waist gunner Joe Wagner (POW) and Tail Gunner Rochatd O. McCarthy (KIA). 4 Killed In Action (KIA), 2 Prisoners of War (POW), 4 Evaded (EVD). Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 4342.
Ford B-24H-15-FO 42-52335 458th BG, 754th BS Admirable Little Character lost Apr 25, 1944 25-04-1944 Tuesday
199 B-24s are dispatched to the marshalling yard at Mannheim, Germany; 7 bomb the primary, 16 bomb the marshalling yard at Landau, Germany and 8 hit targets of opportunity; 5 B-24s are lost and 26 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 4 WIA and 49 MIA.
French First Tactical Airforce P-47 Thunderbolt
The First Tactical Air Force was an ad-hoc multinational force established in November 1944 in south east France to provide air support to the Franco-American Sixth Army Group. It operated until May 1945.
The force was made up of bomber and fighter units from the American Ninth and Twelfth Air Forces, and French First French Air Corps and Western French Air Forces.